Peoria Standard

Peoria County Board Operations Committee met May 10.

Here is the minutes provided by the Committee:

Call to Order:

Vice Chairman Rosenbohm called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m.

Resolution:

• Elected Officials Salaries:

Mr. Sorrel noted that the committee adopted a resolution at its April 23, 2018 meeting which made no changes to the salaries of County Board Members and Committee Chairpersons, removed the $1,250.00 Annual Service Payment from the County Clerk, Treasurer and Sheriff, increased the base salary of the County Clerk and Treasurer by 2.25% per year for each year of their term, removed the Supervisor of Safety salary from the Sheriff, added $5,000.00 to the Sheriff’s base salary, and increased the base salary by 2.25% per year for each year of the Sheriff’s term.

Mr. Sorrel advised that after multiple discussions with committee and other county board members in terms of alternatives, he recommends that the committee entertain a substitute motion putting Rosenbohm Amendment #2 on the floor for discussion purposes. Mr. Rosenbohm explained that after drafting an original Amendment, he determined he would not have sufficient votes for passage. He then re-drafted the Amendment as Amendment #2 as a compromise that would potentially receive more widespread support.

A motion to put Rosenbohm Amendment #2 on the floor for discussion was made by Mr. Rieker and seconded by Mr. Watkins.

Mr. Sorrel advised that Rosenbohm Amendment #2 makes no changes to the salaries of County Board Members and Committee Chairpersons, sets a $1,250.00 Annual Service Payment for the County Clerk, Treasurer and Sheriff for the first two years of their terms, maintains the Supervisor of Safety salary for the Sheriff at the current level of $15,000.00 per year, freezes the annual salary of the County Clerk, Treasurer, and Sheriff at the current amounts for the first two years of the their term, and increases the annual salary of the County Clerk, Treasurer, and Sheriff by 2.25% each for the third and fourth years of their term.

(Mr. Adamson enters meeting.)

Ms. Pastucha distributed a summary outlining salary comparisons among elected officials in Peoria County and comparable Illinois counties, including cost of living statistics. She commented that Peoria County salaries for the three positions being considered are higher than those in the most comparable counties, with the Sheriff’s wages being significantly higher with the inclusion of the $15,000.00 Supervisor of Safety salary. She also noted that the Supervisor of Safety salary was for EMA responsibilities which were delegated to another individual by the Sheriff, and with the transference of responsibilities to the Health Department, supported elimination of the payment.

Ms. Pastucha also expressed concern with the growing discrepancy in salary between the three positions being considered, and the three elected positions that had salaries frozen in 2016. She stated support for freezing the salary of the County Clerk, Treasurer and Sheriff for four years. Mr. Sorrel noted that the elected office salaries not up for consideration in 2018 have generally been paid less than the office up for consideration under this resolution. He stated that past minutes dating back to at least 1993 reflect that prior County Boards determined the County Clerk, Treasurer and Sheriff positions were of greater import to county functions than the remaining elected positions.

Mr. Adamson commended the admirable work of the County Clerk, Treasurer and Sheriff in cost saving measures and overall job performance. He also commented on the long hours involved in the Sheriff’s position. He reiterated his support of the 2.25% increase for all three positions, and although cognizant of budget constraints, categorized the increase as more a cost of living increase as opposed to a raise.

Mr. Rieker stressed the point that salaries are set for a position, not an individual or a job performance, with salary to be considered based upon job expectation of the position, and not the person holding the position.

Mr. Rand stated that although he will support the recommended Amendment #2, he emphasized the original rationale for reducing the Supervisor of Safety payment was due to the transfer of EMA duties from the Sheriff to the Health Department. He further added that long hours come with the position of Sheriff. He noted Sheriff Asbell had advocated for no raise in his pay at the April meeting of the County Operations Committee.

Mr. Dillon stressed that the salary freeze in the first two year of the terms is not a reflection of job performance, noting that union employees and other elected officials have agreed to salary freezes in the past several years in compromise and recognition of Peoria County budget concerns. He said the proposed resolution is a fair compromise, with a salary freeze upfront, a cost of living increase in the last two years, and no cut in salary.

Mr. Adamson asked if there was a means of quantifying an increased value resulting from the transfer of EMA oversight to the Health Department, and Mr. Sorrel stated that designating the Public Health Administrator as the EMA Administrator enables access to additional emergency management planning funding only available to Health Departments. Mr. Adamson requested an estimate of the increase in grant funding as a result of the transfer of responsibility. Mr. Sorrel advised that he would request figures from the Public Health Administrator and report upon receipt of the information.

The motion to approve Amendment #2 as presented carried (4-1), with Ms. Pastucha voting nay.

Adjournment:

The meeting was adjourned by Vice Chairman Rosenbohm at 5:45 p.m.

http://www.peoriacounty.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_05102018-528